It's time for some answers. Lucifer listens but can he handle it? And just how does Chloe fit into the plan?
Wrap Me in Your Wings – Chapter 20
"Good morning," Chloe stepped into the kitchen and gave a soft smile in Lucifer's direction.
He was in an unusual get-up, a t-shirt and dark jeans. He had yet to shower or shave and was still padding around the apartment in his bare feet. Chloe took a second to absorb that look as he stood at the stove apparently making scrambled eggs.
She took a deep breath, stepped closer to him as he stirred the eggs in the skillet, and put one of her hands on his waist.
Lucifer matched her gentle smile with his own and then bent slightly to give her a kiss.
"Thank you," Chloe stole another quick peck from his lips before she put her heels back on the floor and looked him in the eyes.
"For what?" He asked curiously.
"For last night," she glanced to make sure Trixie wasn't nearby. "I've never…felt that close, that intimate…it was amazing," she caught her breath and watched as Lucifer blushed slightly and quickly turned his eyes back to the stove.
"You never have to thank me for making love to you, Detective," his voice was nervous and low. "You know I'm willing to share that with you any time," he chuckled under his breath.
"I know," Chloe moved her hand to his bicep, leaned against him slightly and placed yet another kiss on his shoulder.
"Mom's up!" Trixie interrupted, smiled at the two of them and made her way onto one of the bar stools, waiting for Lucifer to serve her breakfast.
"And I told you that a half hour ago, Child," Lucifer looked at the girl and raised his eyebrows.
"And I did what you told me to do. I went and got ready cause Mom was in the shower and you said you'd make breakfast," Trixie mirrored his raised-eyebrows.
Chloe smiled at them, "Well now that we're all on the same page, what's the plan this morning?"
Lucifer pointed the spatula toward Trixie and looked at Chloe. "Go, sit. Breakfast is ready."
Chloe did as he said and sat next to her daughter as he put plates of eggs, fresh fruit and toast in front of them. He capped off the meal with juice for Trixie and juice and coffee for Chloe. Lucifer stayed on the opposite side of the counter, choosing to stand while he ate.
"Did you want to take your urchin to school this morning?" Chloe wondered after a couple of bites and a passing thought about what could happen later in the morning.
"Mom," Trixie rolled her eyes.
"She's afraid I'll embarrass her again," Lucifer looked at Trixie and pushed a laugh through his nose. "No worries, Urchin. If I take you to school again I'll just boot you out at the curb a block away. Do you know what a beating my street-cred took just having you in my car yesterday?" Lucifer put his plate down on the counter and pointed at her. "My business associates will think I've gone soft. Can't have that," he turned around and refilled his glass of orange juice and then proceeded to add a little alcohol to the glass as well.
"Just tell them you're grooming the next generation," Trixie suggested.
Lucifer chuckled behind his glass, especially when he heard Chloe nearly choke on the bite she was taking.
"Oh, no. Don't even think like that," she looked at Trixie.
"What?" Trixie wondered somewhat seriously. "Lucifer must be a good businessman. Lux is successful and popular and he's got a bunch of real estate properties," she commented.
Chloe and Lucifer looked at each other. She actually made a pretty good point.
"Where'd you go to college, anyway?" Trixie looked at Lucifer curiously.
Lucifer took another drink and huffed. "College, pssshh," he rolled his eyes, "I learned my lessons the hard way after Father banished me and I was on my own."
Trixie's eyes widened. "Your father kicked you out?"
Chloe's eyes also got wide, but for another reason, and she focused them on Lucifer.
"He did," Lucifer caught Chloe's look before shifting his gaze back to Trixie. "But I learned from the experience. Perhaps His decision wasn't as unforgiveable as I once thought," he looked at Chloe, knowing she now understood the weight of his words. "I've had a lot of time to grow and figure out the kind of man I'd like to be."
Chloe held his gaze for a few extra moments, again wondering about his upcoming meeting.
She glanced up at the clock. "Oh, Monkey, if I'm driving you to school we need to get going. Finish eating," she instructed.
Trixie nodded and then went back to her food wondering more about Lucifer's history and family for a moment. She watched Chloe and Lucifer put their plates into the sink and saw them whispering back and forth at a level she couldn't really hear or understand.
The next second her mom took Lucifer by the hand and led him around the corner out of Trixie's sight.
"Are you sure?" She asked Lucifer again. "I can go with you. I'll take Trixie to school then I'll come over to Lux. I'll stay out of the way, I promise. Just let me be there with you. Maybe seeing me… or seeing us together…"
"Chloe, He's made his decision. Whatever Azrael has to say…" Lucifer looked down at her, trying to be positive but his eyes gave away his sense of sadness and worry. Lucifer put a hand on Chloe's cheek and caressed her skin with his thumb. "He's seen us together. He knows you. He's seen the influence you've had in my life. But he's also seen mine in yours."
"If I'm not there, how will I know?" Chloe wondered and took a deep breath just to stay calm. "How will I know what happens?"
Lucifer nodded. "I will let you know. One way or the other… I'll let you know."
"Promise me," Chloe begged with her eyes.
Lucifer nodded and pressed his hand to her cheek again.
"I don't want last night to be our…last night," she chanced saying the words.
"Shh," Lucifer again offered her a sad smile. "Now don't get yourself upset. You need to take our urchin to school and then you need to go to the precinct. You need to get back to work, Detective… back to normal," he attempted.
"Back to normal, without you as my partner?" She asked him as she tried to settle herself and not overthink things. "That's not normal. Although…" she breathed in deeply and found a way to put an almost genuine smile on her face, "my life hasn't been normal since the day you walked into it."
Lucifer chuckled and smiled back at her, "I do believe you're the one who walked into mine…and interrogated me…and shot me…"
"Hey!" Chloe laughed and Lucifer joined her.
He took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her body close to his. "Whatever happens today," their eyes met and Lucifer gazed at Chloe with all the love he could from his heart, "just know that I love you. And you did that, Detective Decker. You changed my heart. What I told the urchin is true, being away from Father has given me a lot of time to figure out who I am. But with you I know more about who I want to be – if I get the chance."
Chloe blinked back her tears, wanting to think the best about the next few hours.
Lucifer bent her backwards and kissed her, bringing a smile to both their faces. "I love you," he grinned and spoke against her lips.
Chloe grinned and even laughed a little as their lips continued touching. "I love you, too," she added to make sure he knew her feelings as well.
"Ahem," Trixie came around the corner with her backpack on her shoulder and crossed her arms over her chest.
Chloe leaned her head farther back and looked at her daughter upside down with another chuckle.
"Do you ever knock, Child?" Lucifer asked in an attempt to cover his smile.
"You're in the hall," Trixie chided.
Lucifer pulled Chloe back into a standing position, made sure she was steady and then let her go and stepped toward Trixie. He stood tall and glared down at her. Trixie straightened her back and glared right up into his eyes.
"Go get in the car, Urchin," Lucifer squinted his eyes and Trixie simply laughed.
"See you tonight, Lucifer!" She turned her back and headed toward the door. "Don't kiss her too much longer or I'm gonna be late for school!"
Lucifer turned back to Chloe, "Go," he smiled at her, refusing to step back into the worry as well.
"I'll see you tonight," Chloe tiptoed up and kissed him. She put a finger on his lips before he could say anything else. "You go shower and get to Lux. I'll be at the precinct all day. I know Ella would love to see you, so you can come by, or I'll just see you here, tonight."
Lucifer nodded.
Chloe waited until he turned around and headed up the stairs to get ready for his day. She took a deep breath and convinced herself that what she had just told him was true.
Now she just had to keep that attitude through the remainder of the…entire…day.
*****WMiYW*****
"Chloe!" Ella's perky voice was the first to greet her ears when Chloe made her way to her desk.
The shorter, dark-haired woman followed the detective with a smile on her face. "Where's…" she hesitated then started again, "Dan said Lucifer's back," she spoke quickly. "Is he back in town? Is he back for good, is he with you? Is he…are you and he…is he with you?" Ella raised her eyebrows causing Chloe to give her a motherly look.
Ella pressed her lips together and then grinned a quirky little smirk. "Talk to me… come on, you wanna spill it, I can tell!" She sat down on the edge of Chloe's desk as the detective sat down in her chair and proceeded to start logging into her computer.
"Can I just… I need to catch up on a few things. Give me a little bit and we'll…" Chloe glanced toward Ella just as Dan also stepped up to her desk.
"So?" Dan interrupted followed by a deep breath that certainly didn't match Ella's excitement.
"So what?" Chloe moved her vision to him knowing the last time they had actually talked was right after Dan had punched Lucifer in the face.
"So you're back at work? I guess that's good," Dan put his hands on his hips.
"Dan, I know you aren't thrilled about this and I know we still need to talk. There's just… there's still a lot…" Chloe tried to find words to explain.
"Is he gone again already?" Dan asked, obviously angry with that idea.
"No!" Chloe stood up from her chair and put her hands on her desk, leaning forward to glare at her ex-husband. "If you thought punching him would make him leave again you're wrong!" She tried to keep her voice at an angry whisper.
"Whoa!" Ella broke the conversation and looked at Dan. "You did what? You punched him? You didn't say anything about that!" Her voice was obviously louder than Chloe's and gained several looks from other police officers in the vicinity.
Chloe put one hand in the air and one on Ella's wrist. "Lucifer is back. He brought Trixie home night before last and they are both fine," she again spoke lowly to keep from drawing any more attention. "But both of you, please. Just let me get caught up on a few things and Ella, I will come in and talk to you. Dan, what do you want me to say?"
Dan stood back looking a little less menacing than when he had first stepped up to her. "Nothing, sorry," he apologized with his eyes pointed to the ground.
"I know we still need to talk. I know you need time with Trixie to talk to her about all that happened. If you can just give me today, please, I will do my best to get my head back on straight and then we can talk – maybe this weekend we can talk and Trixie can spend the weekend with you," Chloe offered.
Dan looked at her and nodded. He knew she had a lot on her mind, even without having a clue about the importance of 'today'. "Sounds like a plan," he said simply. "Is Trixie okay?" He wondered.
Chloe smiled at him and nodded. "She's fine. She's sassy," the detective rolled her eyes, "and she now thinks she's about 22, not 11. That's going to have to change," she caught Dan's eye and smiled a touch wider.
"Yeah," Dan chuckled with a sarcastic feeling going through him. "Well I wonder who she gets that from?" He also rolled his eyes but it made them both think – had Lucifer already rubbed off on Trixie, or did she inherit her strong-headedness from one or both of her parents?
With that he turned and walked away, as satisfied as he could be with Chloe's answers.
Ella stayed by the desk for another minute. "Did he really punch Lucifer?" She wondered with a more serious look as Chloe sat back in her chair and sighed.
"Yes," Chloe dipped her head from side to side as she recalled the homecoming and sighed another time before looking at the friend who had become like a little sister to her. "When Lucifer brought Trixie home Dan and I were both asleep on the couch. Lucifer and Trixie were quiet, but when Dan woke up he was pissed, obviously, and he took it out on Lucifer. Dan blamed him for Trixie running away."
Ella nodded, "Ah. Well, that makes sense," she stopped there wanting to ask more and Chloe could tell.
"I will come in and we'll talk in a little bit, okay? There's just…Lucifer has a meeting this morning. I'd like to hear from him before we talk," she glanced at her phone which was completely silent and sitting on her desk.
"You okay?" Ella wondered and Chloe smiled at her softly.
"I will be," Chloe sat up a little straighter and looked toward her computer screen.
Ella took that as her cue to leave the detective alone with her thoughts.
"But-" Chloe caught the lab tech's attention again before she stepped away. Ella turned around and saw a little gleam in the detective's eyes and noted that Chloe was smiling and nibbling on her bottom lip. "Um," Chloe glanced to make sure no one else is around, "You're right," she whispered and felt her cheek's blush.
Ella nearly giggled before she leaned her head down closer to Chloe's. "You know, I'm no expert. But I was pretty damn sure that's a post-sex glow…all over you. Finally gave in to those devilish charms, Detective?" The younger woman raised her eyebrows as though she was scolding her older friend.
"I've spent more time in bed with a man in the past 36 hours than I have since my honeymoon," Chloe confided.
Ella snorted, again catching some unwanted additional attention but she couldn't help it and this time Chloe also snickered, albeit a little nervously.
"Good for you," Ella said seriously but happily. She again began stepping away and then turned around and walked backwards as she grinned at Chloe. "Bout damn time, Decker!"
Chloe shushed her again and shooed her towards the lab. "Behave and I might share details," she grinned as Ella's mouth dropped open and the young scientist put fingers over her gaping look.
*****WMiYW*****
Lucifer paced in his penthouse. He had poured two glasses of bourbon and had one sitting on the piano. The other was outside on the balcony where he had gone and leaned against the railing just minutes after arriving at his home.
The black butterfly had welcomed him, lighting beside him and slowly moving its wings up and down for balance.
"Shouldn't you be with Chloe, or Trixie?" He spoke with a little sarcasm and then let out a slightly cleansing breath. "Although I should be happy you're here. It's like having them here without either of them having to go through the reality…" He looked up toward Heaven, "Can we get this over with already? I feel like I'm sitting in the interrogation room at the precinct. Come to think of it I'd probably feel better sitting in there than waiting around here."
He shook his head and then breathed in deeply. "I – I'm sorry," Lucifer spoke into open air, looking down toward the ground five stories below. "I just want…I want more time here. You know what I want but I now know it isn't up to me."
The devil stood silently for another few moments, took another sip from his glass and then placed it on the table behind him. The butterfly followed and landed on the edge of the container. "Don't drink that," Lucifer stared down at the creature. "Certainly not nectar for you. God help me if I do something to hurt you in the middle of all of this."
After the insect seemingly listened to him and hopped off the glass and onto the table, Lucifer nodded his head and walked back inside. He spent the next half hour wandering from room to room, throwing a few out-dated items out of his refrigerator and washing the glass that Trixie had drank out of the night before that was left sitting on the sink.
When the elevator bell sounded Lucifer made his way back into the open space of his penthouse and sighed as he was met by Amenadiel and Maze.
"Were you going to tell us you were back?" Maze asked without even a 'hello' in greeting.
Lucifer glared at the woman, dressed a bit more modestly than he recalled, and tilted his head with raised eyebrows. "I've been a little preoccupied," he informed his demon and his brother.
Maze grinned, "Decker still in bed?" she peeked toward the bedroom but saw the bed completely made with the tight creases only left by his maid service.
"The detective is at work, if you must know," Lucifer supplied.
"Luci, are you alright?" Amenadiel finally asked after taking a few minutes to assess the current situation.
Lucifer shook his head. "We came by here last night so I could pick up some clothes," he began.
"You're staying at Chloe's?" Maze looked at him with surprise but continued to smile. "How's that workin' for you?" she questioned.
Lucifer ignored her question, somewhat, with just a glance that he must've picked up from Chloe.
"Before we left I went to get something from my safe and found these," he looked back at Amenadiel and went on with his explanation.
His brother stepped toward him, standing by the bar, and picked up the note first. "Azrael is bringing a message from Father?"
Lucifer nodded slowly as he and Amenadiel looked eye to eye. "Yes, Brother, that's why I wanted you and Maze here with me. I don't know what to expect."
"Why is the Angel of Death delivering a message?" Maze's tone changed quickly as thoughts began to race through her mind. "Shouldn't Chloe be here with you? Shouldn't one of us be with her? If your sister is bringing a message, aren't you worried for Chloe?"
"Yes!" Lucifer answered shortly. "Which is why I don't want her here. If Azrael is bringing me the message, here, then I'm hoping the detective is safe."
Amenadiel opened the box while Maze and Lucifer talked. "I feel like Maze might be right, Luci," Amenadiel commented. "Should one of us go to Chloe and watch out for her?"
Lucifer shook his head. "Miss Lopez is at the precinct with Chloe," he said her first name softly when he chose to use it. "Azrael is a friend of Miss Lopez," he informed his guests. "A little while ago, when Ella was considering moving back to Detroit, Azrael visited her and convinced her to stay here. Little did I know that the two of them have been conversing since Ella was in a serious car accident in her childhood. Azrael spared her life and became a friend who helped Miss Lopez through some tough times as I understand it. Ella thinks Rae-Rae is a ghost. She has no idea Azrael and I are related."
He watched Maze and Amenadiel's faces as he recounted their sister's story. "So, it seems to me, Azrael won't hurt Chloe if Ella is nearby. She won't hurt Miss Lopez, not like that."
Maze nodded. "Okay, so why are we here?" she wondered.
Amenadiel held up the open box and raised an eyebrow at Lucifer. "This was in the safe with the note?"
Lucifer nodded. "They were together. It's certainly not a ring that I've purchased. Actually, I was in the safe when we first stopped here, to put away cash that the urchin had taken for her Vegas jaunt…"
"Trixie took money from your safe?" Maze nearly laughed, but her mouth dropped open in surprise, waiting for Lucifer's answer.
"That's a whole other story, Mazikeen!" Lucifer looked at her. "Can we focus on what's to happen right now?"
Amenadiel found himself chuckling as well but quickly stopped with Lucifer's serious voice. "Yes," he agreed with his brother, "Go on, Luci."
"As I was saying, when I first opened the safe, the ring and the note were not in there. We were only here a little while, maybe an hour, if that long. When we went to leave, I came back in her to get some real estate information out of the safe but when I opened it again, there was the box and the paper, front and center."
Amenadiel and Maze continued to listen, making themselves more comfortable and still wondering why they were there.
"I spoke with Father," Lucifer finally admitted, "while I was back in Hell. I asked him if I could return to earth because I wanted time with Chloe." He lifted his second glass of bourbon and drained it.
His guests watched without saying a word as he filled the glass again and took another long drink.
Lucifer sat the glass down and looked back at them. "Now I've had time with her. I've…told her…something that I've needed to tell her for quite some time," he paused. "I'm afraid," he emphasized that word for its double meaning, "perhaps Father feels I've had enough time with her now and it's time for me to return to Hell. By having Azrael deliver his message, maybe she's here to take me back. Father knows I can't fight her, I won't. But I wanted you here as witnesses, I suppose. If she is to take me back, I want you to go to Chloe and tell her."
"You want us to break that news to her?" Maze asked with annoyance.
"You won't be breaking the news," Lucifer spoke more softly. "She knows it's likely. I've asked her to simply go on like normal today but we've had a long discussion. She's seen me leave before and I can't stand the thought of watching her cry again. I simply need you to tell her. And," he paused again, "just remind her that I love her."
Amenadiel sucked in a long breath. "Have you told her that?"
Lucifer nodded slowly, without looking at his brother. "It's what I've wanted to tell her for a while now. I told Father I needed to let her know my feelings. I should've told her this years ago but I couldn't bring myself to believe it. Now I've told her. Now she knows."
"And she loves you as well," Maze added.
Again the devil nodded slowly, looking down into the cup of alcohol. He blew a breath through his nose and smiled sadly. "Yes," was all he could say.
Before any of them could say anything else, a rush of wings was heard on the balcony. All three of them looked up to see the young face of Azrael, in her dark robe, coming into the room.
*****WMiYW*****
Chloe had looked at her phone more than a dozen times in the 60 minutes that she had been sitting at her desk. She wasn't sure how many emails she had opened, how many file folders she had flipped through or the number of voice mails that she had listened to. The only thing on her mind was the fact that Lucifer hadn't called or texted her.
She finally rolled her eyes at herself and the distraction that she just couldn't seem to work past. After huffing out a breath she looked through the window of the lab and saw Ella working with her earbuds in, swaying to the music playing in her ears.
The detective stood up from her desk, put her phone in her pocket and headed toward the younger woman. Even if Ella didn't know the full story, she had a heart of gold and only wanted the best for her friends.
"Hey," Chloe made sure to catch her attention when she walked through the door.
Ella quickly pulled out her earbuds and smiled. "Talk time?" she asked excitedly.
Chloe nodded and sat down on a stool beside her friend.
"I'm all ears," Ella put a hand on Chloe's encouraging her to tell her whatever was on her mind.
Chloe took a deep breath. "Lucifer and I…" she started then stopped, licking her bottom lip and looking up at Ella with just a glance. "made love the night he brought Trixie home. He told me that he loved me and I told him that I love him too." She chanced looking up at Ella's face which was practically glowing with a smile from ear to ear.
"And now?" Ella asked simply.
"It's complicated. But," Chloe breathed in and out a few times and altered the topic, slightly, "I've had a change of faith recently, Ella. I remember telling Lucifer once that I didn't believe in Bible stuff. I do now. I…I believe God is real and Heaven, and Hell, angels and demons…I believe."
"Okay," Ella could only imagine how that tied into Lucifer's return.
"I know that you went through faith challenges after Charlotte was killed. It's all so new to me that I'm still trying to figure out this faith thing. And I know I'm talking crazy right now, but right now, Lucifer is at Lux, waiting to find out if he's gonna have to go back to his hell or not." Chloe bit the inside of her cheek as she thought about her words, what she wanted to tell Ella, what she wanted to ask her and yet wanting to lean on her pretty heavily in this moment.
"But he just got back," Ella interjected.
Chloe nodded. "That's one reason this is so hard. When he went away I found myself praying and asking for him to be safe and to come home to me. He did. But…this is nuts…but it's like he found out that Trix ran away and he just came home without asking any questions, without permission – maybe? And we were blessed with a couple of days to be together to share our feelings and explore…those feelings…" She bit her lip, looked around the room and then swallowed as she looked back at Ella. "Then last night he got a message saying today could be it. I don't want this to be it. I want…more time. But I am trying to lean on my faith right now. I'm trying to believe that HE wants the best for me and for Lucifer. I want to believe that God will give us more time together. But there's another part of me that thinks I'm going to lose him…again," Chloe couldn't ignore the lump that formed in her throat or the tears that blurred her vision.
Ella noticed and quickly pulled up a stool before taking Chloe's hands in hers.
"Faith," Ella moved her head around until Chloe looked into her eyes. "Faith has to be tested. If we believe that the Big Guy is watching over us and watching out for us and that He wants the best for us, then there are gonna be little things every day that test us. Dan punching Lucifer…Maze being Maze…Trixie running away was a bigger one… You can look back on every day and say 'God, what the hell?' And then there's times like this when you either say 'God, you gotta handle this' or you start giving Him ultimatums or trying to make deals with Him. That's where I was when Charlotte was killed. There had been so much bad that I tried to forget my faith and handle things on my own. It took a while but then I realized, I can't do that. I lean on Him at every twist and turn and even if I'm questioning His decisions, ultimately I know I'm gonna get through things because He's in my corner."
"So I'm sitting here having a panic attack, wondering if I should be with Lucifer right now and questioning my own decisions…" Chloe tried to understand what Ella was saying.
"And that's fine. And if you get a call saying that he has to leave again, you're gonna rethink all those decisions over and over again. So all you can do right now is just ask the Big Guy to help you get through. Ask Him what you really want, and ultimately ask Him to help you get through. He may not make it easy for you, but He will help you through."
Chloe nodded. She was trying. She was trying to hang onto that faith that she had had hoping that Lucifer would come home. That same faith was giving her hope that the Big Guy would answer her and Lucifer's prayers. And yet there was still that terrified part of her that just knew he was going away again. Was Lucifer's Dad a benevolent God? Could He be, even with His outcast son? She wanted to believe that He would be – and she believed in her heart that God would give Lucifer another chance…a chance to really experience love…with her.
*****WMiYW*****
"Why the long faces?" Azrael looked at the three other celestials in the room. "Did somebody die?"
"You would know, wouldn't you?" Maze commented, taking the chance to be the first to speak to Lucifer and Amenadiel's sister.
"Oh, good point!" Azrael smiled toward the demon as her brothers still stood silently. The younger angel stepped toward Amenadiel first and opened her arms for a hug. "Big brother, it's been too long! I didn't get to see you the last time I came to town."
Amenadiel wrapped his arms around the smaller being and looked at Lucifer. Before their embrace could break, Lucifer picked up the items left in his safe and stepped toward them both.
"Just tell me, please?" His voice was soft, not necessarily calm, but obviously filled with a curious need.
Azrael turned toward him. "Luci, you've fallen in love!" she grinned at her brother as the two stepped closer to each other and she looked up at him standing more than a foot taller than her.
Lucifer offered her a momentary, nervous smile. "I have," he offered simply. "And for that reason I'm quite fearful of this visit."
Azrael stepped backwards and looked at Lucifer with a thoughtful gaze. "You know, when I was here before, visiting with Ella, there were two real reasons I thought she should stay in Los Angeles. One was you, of course. I told you that. And you've watched out for her."
She stepped farther from Lucifer and sat down on the piano bench touching the keys gingerly but not striking them hard enough to make a sound. "The other," she watched her fingers and then began playing single notes to the tune of Heart and Soul, the song that Lucifer and Chloe had played together as a duet years before. "The other reason was Chloe Decker. I saw you and Chloe together when you were working that case about the violin teacher who was murdered by one of her students' parents… I could tell there was something special about that detective. And I told Ella to talk to Chloe, to trust her and she did! She loves Chloe like a sister." The darker angel looked down at her hands on the piano keys and then looked shyly back at her big brother who was standing by the back of the instrument. "I knew you would fall in love with her if you'd just give yourself the chance."
Lucifer, Amenadiel and Maze listened as Azrael talked and played. None of them could figure out, however, where the conversation was going.
"Rae-Rae," Lucifer finally spoke his pet name for her – the same one that Ella called his sister. "Please, Father's message, please just tell me."
"Father – oh yes!" Azrael looked at him and thought for another moment. She stood up and took the piece of paper from his hands. "I asked Father if I could bring this message to you, because I never get to bring good news…"
Lucifer's eyes widened and he looked at her as she reached out and also took the ring box from his hands. Azrael opened the box and looked at the shining jewelry inside. "Do you remember," she held the ring up so all four of them could see it, "there was a necklace that Mother used to wear. It was filled with beautiful gems, representing their children. She always said her children were her jewels, beautiful, bright and priceless."
Lucifer nodded his recollection of the necklace but then he put his head down. "She wasn't allowed to bring it to Hell. It was left behind, in Father's care when she was sent…out."
Azrael nodded. "After you were cast out, Mother used to show me the necklace and she would point to some of the diamonds and rubies. She would tell me how they reminded her of you, Luci. She said the diamonds were bright, like you, her light-bringer. And the rubies, she said, were like the fire that you held inside of you. She said if you ever found love, true love, that fire would show through in your passion."
Lucifer's heart pounded. "That's what sent me to Father…that's why I had the courage to go to Him after I went back to Hell. My passion, my love," he looked toward Amenadiel and Maze, "for Chloe. She lit that fire inside of me."
Azrael smiled and pointed to the ring. "The diamond and these rubies are from Mother's necklace. Father has seen a change in you and he knows it's because of your detective and her daughter. Yes, she was created to be put in your path, Brother, but you both still had free will to choose each other or not. Father knew she would have an influence on you, but falling in love was your choice and hers. Perhaps Father made it possible, but if you love her and Chloe loves you, those were choices you each made."
Lucifer listened, quietly stunned by Azrael's explanation. They all let the words sink in for a couple of minutes before Lucifer spoke again. "Is there more to His message?" He asked curiously and yet was still slightly worried. "Is the ring supposed to be just a family heirloom? What about the note…at death will you part?...what does that mean?"
Azrael smiled again and shrugged her shoulders like a little girl. "Don't you get it, Brother?" She looked at Amenadiel and Maze who also had blank looks on their faces. Azrael laughed out loud once and then placed the ring back in the box and handed it back to Lucifer.
"Fine, I'll spell it out for you," the Angel of Death rolled her eyes. "Father will allow you to remain here on earth, if you make a lifetime commitment to Chloe."
Lucifer looked at his sister and his eyes widened as her meaning finally clicked in his mind. "And by commitment you…He…means…"
"Marry her," Azrael nodded. "The ring is an engagement ring. Father says you and Chloe will have to pick out your own wedding bands, but he's happy to contribute this family heirloom as a token of your proposal."
Lucifer turned around, putting his back toward the three others in the room. He looked down at the box in his hand and rolled it around.
"But Lucifer," Azrael continued. "You can't put this off. Father says if you love Chloe enough to return to her because you want to make a life with her, you need to do just that. Propose and be married soon. Prove to Him that this is what you want."
"I'm not sure I'm the marrying type," Lucifer laughed nervously although his words weren't meant as a joke.
Azrael walked to him and put a hand on his bicep. "Father made clear his terms of commitment in the Torah. The laws went out to humans, and Brother you're asking to make a life with a human. You can't ask Father for this and then expect to make your own rules."
Amenadiel shifted on the couch and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "So marriage is the commitment Father wants to see? He wants Lucifer to marry Chloe and truly make his life with her?"
Azrael nodded. "And it must be soon. Within the next few days, soon. Otherwise, you'll be forced to return to Hell. If Chloe isn't willing to marry you…if her love isn't as sure as yours, you return to Hell."
Lucifer sucked in a breath and held it. He and Chloe needed time to make sure they were right for each other, didn't they? Well, he knew they were right for each other, but after Chloe's divorce and the fiasco of an engagement with Cain/Pierce, could he even convince her to think about marriage again? How was he supposed to make this happen?
Azrael picked up the note from the lid of the piano and shook it slightly. "This is the other end of the deal…" she started and waited to make sure she had Lucifer's attention. "Although Father knows you've changed," she licked her lips slowly and her eyes shifted as she began the explanation, "He's not building a Morningstar family mansion in the Silver City. When Chloe's life ends, you return to Hell. The two of you will be separated at the end of her life. You will return to continue the work that you were destined to do, in Hell. Chloe will join her father, her mother, if Penelope has passed at that time, and what she doesn't know…she has a sister and brother in Heaven. Two siblings were stillborn to John and Penelope before Amenadiel visited and they were blessed with Chloe."
Lucifer's mind and body went numb. He wandered past Azrael, his brother and Maze without saying a word and went straight to the balcony. He again leaned against the railing and stared at nothing in particular. He put the ring box in his pocket for safe keeping but then kept his hand in his pocket holding the box. It was all just a lot to take in.
He turned around to grab the glass of bourbon he had left on the table earlier. Diablo still sat on the table next to the cup with his antennae curling and uncurling calmly. Lucifer looked at the creature, picked up the glass and took a quick sip before going back to the railing and looking toward Heaven.
"Thank you," he said out loud. "I'm working to understand and accept what you're telling me. Please, grant me a few days to come to terms with this in my mind and my heart. I do love Chloe. I do want a life with her and I will marry her if she'll have me. I want to give her and Beatrix the best life possible. But please…just a little time for me to let this sink in and to make this right, for them. I'll do as you're telling me and I'm grateful, Father."
Diablo landed on the back of Lucifer's hand. The devil looked down at the majestic creature and found a way to smile. "You're going to have to do some more traveling, my little friend," Lucifer breathed gently as he whispered to the insect. "Meet me at the canyon house. Hopefully I'll bring your young human pet to visit you tomorrow. You're going to have to help me convince the Deckerstar women that we deserve to be together…now."
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